"As far as Seattle?" he repeated in an entirely indifferent tone.
"Yes," replied Wallion smiling, "the last time we met I promised that you should hear from me before you left Sweden. We called once or twice at your hotel at Gothenburg, but never had the luck to find you in, so we were obliged to put off asking for the little elucidation we require, until now."
The doctor's eyes became sharper behind his pince-nez.
"Your journey to Seattle seems to have been quite a sudden plan?"
"As sudden as Dreyel's death, Doctor Corman, which makes an explanation all the more needful."
The doctor gave a mocking smile, and said, "Well, my curiosity is beginning to be aroused; let us go into the saloon." He led the way, and before he realized where he was, Tom found himself bowing before Elaine Robertson, whose fearless, serious eyes looked into his. She was sitting beside Madame Lorraine on a sofa in the corner. Tom had an uncomfortable suspicion that this meeting had been pre-arranged.
The doctor introduced his sister, and the usual civilities were exchanged. Madame was stout, unusually fair and good-looking, a little over thirty, with sea-green, sleepy eyes and carmine lips; she looked at the two men with the bold curiosity of a woman of the world but said nothing. Tom took a seat by Elaine and asked:
"Are you not surprised to see us here?"
"No," she said. "I knew you were on board."
"Don't you wonder what brought us here?"